CirclesthePlanet

2012

2009-12-03T19:31:00.004+07:00

For anyone who is clueless '2012' is not only a recent Hollywood disaster but also also the 'end' date of a several thousand year ancient Mayan time period. According to Mayan prophecy Winter Solstice, 2012 signals a 'shift' (end/beginning) in time-space ushering in a new time period. Some say at 11:11 am on Winter Solstice in three years time the Earth will be in the Galactic Center of the Milky Way Galaxy. What will happen then?
According to the script-writer of the '2012' flick calamity will strike everywhere on Earth. The movie goes through about every disaster imaginable (except nuclear war & a meteor strike) The Earth's crust starts to melt bringing earthquakes & 1,500! meter tsunami's, the polar caps shift, & Yellowstone Super-Volcano blows covering the entire US in dusty darkness..(amazingly it does not cover the entire World as clear skies appear in the last scene as the survivors float to safety in their Chinese Metal-ship Arks)
Who knows what will actually happen at that moment in time? Do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? The fact is we don't know for certain anything about the 'future'. (except that our bodies will one day/year stop functioning)
Instead of death & destruction Optimists ('New Ager's') have a different take on 2012. To some it will be signal a new beginning for the human species. We will have a radical shift in consciousness or awakening & will realize the inter-connectedness of ourselves to all beings.
Other idea's are that the mysterious beings creating the crop circles & such ('Aliens') will finally show themselves & blow folks minds wide open...Of course fundamentalist religious folks believe that we are in 'end times' & their Savior will miraculously appear & amazingly make them disappear into 'heaven' & the rest of the 'sinners' will be 'left behind' with that bad horny devil...(actually both of those scenario's sound equally plausible..)
Here is one fact I believe. We really have no control over Nature. Can humanity stop a Tsunami? Can we stop a Volcano from blowing up? No. Some scientist's feel we are approaching a 'tipping point' in Climate Change (the melting of the Ice Caps,etc) which could result in a rather sudden Global 'Burp' which could be quite nasty (Oceans or Siberia releasing massive amounts of Methane Gas) Heck, when the Yellowstone Volcano does blow up one day it will cover the entire Planet in horrific dust..(some theorize the Dinosaurs were taken out by a Meteor creating dust that blocked the Sun out for years)
Although I believe we have no control over 'acts of Nature' I do believe we can influence the Noosphere of Humanity & that all living Beings are inter-connected. Have you heard of the 100th Monkey? A book by Ken Keyes about stopping Nuclear Arms/Wars but also an actual study of Monkeys on remote Japanese Islands. Scientists observed that one tribe of Monkeys on one Island started washing their fruit(before eating) for the first time...At a certain point(perhaps the '100th' Monkey) scientists on another Island realized that the behavior tranfered to Monkeys on the other Islands although there was no physical contact.
Why I am sharing this story is that I will go with the Optimists on 2012. There have been actual studies that groups of people who meditate or pray can lower the crime rate in cities or help individuals in physical healing. If enough people across the Planet are centered & sending out peaceful 'love/compassion' vibrations perhaps it will shift humanity into a less fearful vibration. Imagine millions of people on Winter Solstice 2012 meditating/praying for Peace. That's a beautiful thought isn't it? (maybe 11/11/11 can be a great warm-up!)
Love or Fear? I will go with Love. But even if the doomsayers are right & 2012 is the 'end' of Civilization I will still be sitting in meditation that day. I would rather sit on a beach & wait for the Tsunami to come(what a last bodysurf ride!) than be hiding in fear.
'2012' starts today. This moment. This breath. Be the '100th' Monkey. Be at Peace. Turn on your Heart-Light. Share your Love. Open Heart, Open Mind. One Love, One People, One Planet. Namaste.

Asia's Air (Pollution)

2009-11-03T13:34:00.008+07:00

There are many wonderful things about Asia. Most people are very friendly, the food is incredible, the ancient culture's are unique, and there is pristine Nature away from the urban area's.
However, one negative aspect that sets most of Asia apart from the rest of the World is the poor quality of Air. China's cities have notoriously unhealthy air and most cities throughout Asia have terrible air quality.
I happen to live in Taiwan, one of the four economic 'little tigers' of Asia. (others being South Korea, Singapore, & Hong Kong) Taiwan's economic growth has a cost though, as the air quality in it's major cities (where most of it's citizens live) is quite poor many days of the year.
The northern capital of Taipei has poor air quality on many days, mainly due to it's geographical location in a basin (former swamp) surrounded by mountains. Although it has an excellent public transit train and bus system there are almost one million gasoline-powered scooters in the city alone causing much of the pollution. Dust & Industrial Pollution drifting across the Taiwan Strait from China also causes air quality problems at certain times of the year.
Air pollution in other parts of Taiwan is mainly caused by local industries like petrochemical/ethylene, plastics, & other toxic factories.
In southern Kaohsiung, the second largest city, the power plant is the major source of pollution. Taiwan has some of the largest carbon-dioxide producing coal plants in the World, which is shameful to the intelligence here & harmful to the children and elderly living near these monstrous plants.
Besides the obvious solution of converting to alternative energies like wind & solar, and using natural gas instead of coal, expanding conservation efforts is a must. With an island population of 23 milllion, people should be encouraged to use fans instead of cranking their air-conditioners all the time. Industrial plants should be required to conserve energy and toxic industries like ethylene/naptha plastics should be phased out. Even simple acts like encouraging scooters to turn off their engines if sitting at red lights more than 30 seconds would help air quality. (Citizens sitting on gasoline scooters at crowded red lights are exposed to highly toxic levels of pollution particles)
A cultural aspect of air pollution unique to Taiwan is the burning of paper 'money' twice a month.(every new & full moon) Many residents & businesses burn huge amounts of colored (toxic) paper for good luck & to honor the 'ghost' ancestors. This unnecessary ritual makes the pollution even worse on these days. I think the 'ghosts' would accept a ceremonial burned check!
A different aspect of air pollution in Asia is indoor smoking. While the rest of the World is moving forward on this issue (even the pubs in Ireland are smoke-free!) Asia seems stuck in a 1950's time warp. Over 40% of Chinese men are smokers. In Taiwan, although an indoor smoking ban was recently made into law, smoking is still allowed in most pubs and nightclubs. Second-hand smoke is toxic air for everyone & even a non-smokers clothes will reek of smoke. Smoking cigarettes is the worst thing you can do for your health & if you smoke indoors around other people you are a social idiot.
People (not just in Asia) have not connected how their personal choices and actions are contributing to the problem. When we drive our gasoline machines instead of taking public transit or bikes we create more toxic air. When we leave lights on we 'waste' energy that is probably coming from a toxic power source. When we continually buy disposable 'plastic' cups/drinks that cup was created from a toxic plant and needs more energy generated to be recycled. (Reduce/Re-use/then Recycle) Do you know where the energy powering your home & community comes from? If you are not off-grid it is probably from a toxic power source.
We need to demand from our political leaders that citizens lungs are more important than industrial profit & wake up to how our daily actions are interconnected. Also, to appreciate good quality Air whenever we experience it. As the Pink Floyd song says, "Breathe, breathe in the Air..."

Stop honoring Columbus!.. Indigenous Peoples Day!

2009-10-09T18:36:00.005+07:00

Why does America celebrate the life of an Italian explorer who was responsible for the murder and eventual genocide of an entire race of people?
When Christopher Columbus landed on Haiti/Hispaniola in 1495 for his second visit, his men took captive the 2,000 friendly Taino native villagers who came to greet him. The Spaniards, under the command of Columbus, began mass enslavement of the indigenous Taino peoples. Once gold was discovered Columbus set up a tribute system and had the hands cut off of Taino Indians who did not collect enough gold dust. For minor offenses an Indians nose or ears were cut off and Spaniards even hunted Indians for sport and murdered them for dog food.
As he began exporting the Taino as slaves, the sex-trade became an important part of the business, as Columbus wrote a friend in 1500: "A hundred castelanoes (coins) are as easily obtained for a woman as a farm, and it is very general and there are plenty of dealers who go about looking for these girls; those from nine to ten (years old) are now in demand."
As the Taino natives did not make very good slaves Columbus, and later his brother Bartholomew, simply resorted to an 'ethnic cleansing' and wiping out the Taino people all together. Prior to Columbus' arrival most scholars place the native population at three million people. By 1516 the population was 12,000. By 1555 not a single Taino was alive. The Taino culture, people, and genes have vanished from the Planet.
Celebrating the life of a mass murderer is not worthy of America. There is a growing movement to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day to honor all the incredible people and cultures who lived here long before Columbus set sail for the West Indies. Indigenous Peoples Day would be joyously celebrated across the nation by the descendants of European explorers and indigenous peoples coming together to celebrate our ancestors.

Octopussy & Overpopulation

2009-09-15T00:45:00.008+07:00

Start counting out loud...1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10....That is the human population growth taking place right now on this Planet. If you continue counting for 24 hours you will get to about 200,000 which the amount of human population growth added everyday on Earth. (350,000 babies are born everyday & 150,000 humans die everyday) About 74 million humans are added each year!
For most of human history Homo Sapiens species population has been far below one Billion. In 1800 it reached one Billion, by 1960 it reached 3 Billion, & less than 50 years later is approaching 7 Billion.
Almost all of ecological & society's problems can be traced to overpopulation. Deforestation, loss of species, soil erosion, pollution, & numerous other problems have roots in mankind's relentless quest to populate the Planet. When we cut tropical rain forests to raise cattle to kill for fast-food 'hamburgers' we are basically turning the Earth into a giant human feedlot.
Octopussy is not only the name of an old James Bond movie but also a name given to the recent 'Octo-Mom', a U.S. woman with 6 children who decided to go to a fertility clinic & ended up giving birth to eight more! Now she has her own TV show & so does another family who will soon be having their 18th kid! Instead of celebrating these idiots perhaps their husband/partners should be taken to a clinic & given a few snips to end their prolific stupidity!
The fact is that anyone having more than 2 children is contributing to overpopulation. You may be a mother reading this with 3 or more children(I am not calling you stupid!) so to balance the population let's hope at least one of your kids is Gay or becomes a monk or nun!
The main factor in population increase has been the rise in production of food. With the discovery of oil & the development of the tractor humans were suddenly able to produce many more crops than just using horses or oxen.
Another factor has been Religion. 'Be fruitful & multiply' has been a Bible tenet & organizations like the Catholic Church & their opposition to birth control has made Christianity the most followed religion. Of course this has consequences as an overpopulated Catholic country like the Philippines is now a net importer of rice. (while a Buddhist country like Thailand is an exporter) Protestant sub-sects like Mormonism are prolific breeders too & obviously Christian tenets like being 'good stewards' of the Earth are not highly valued.
Despite wacko's like the Octomom the birthrate in most wealthy democracies is going down. One of the single most factors in causing a birthrate to decrease is providing education & access to birth control to women. When women are given opportunities they overwhelmingly chose to limit the number of children they have to create a better quality of life for themselves & their children. We need to support family planning clinics in every nation & community. We also need to stop demonizing women who chose to have abortions. (Without abortions the population growth would be much greater)
Kid's are great! Let's just stop having so damn many of them.

For a fascinating look at population growth & other mind-boggling global statistics/World Clock
http://www.peterrussell.com

Don't Fear the Reaper

2009-08-23T20:19:00.010+07:00

All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the Reaper
nor do the Wind, Sun, or Rain
We can Be like they are
Come on baby..don't fear the Reaper
Baby take my hand..don't fear the Reaper
We'll be able to fly..don't fear the Reaper

(Don't Fear) the Reaper was a classic rock song from the band Blue Oyster Cult in the 1970's. The lyricist stated the song was about not fearing Death (the Reaper), and the power of Love to endure our physical Forms.
All Life (forms) are subject to Death & there is a constant flow of death & birth on this Planet.
About 150,000 People die each day. About 350,000 Babies are born every day. (another topic!)
Look around you as you go about your day. Every person you meet today, or see on the internet or television is going to die one day. So will you. If we are lucky we will die an old man or woman, surrounded by loved ones or perhaps peacefully in our sleep. But there is no guarantee of that. The only guarantee is that you, & every human being & other life forms on this Planet will die some day.
You may have a simplistic belief that on death you will ascend to 'heaven' & play harps with Jesus, or as a Muslim will be hanging out with the 101 virgins. Or perhaps you are a New-Ager & your 'guides' tell you death is like 'taking off an tight shoe'. Or perhaps you are a Buddhist or Hindu & believe in reincarnation but that doesn't change the fact that YOU, as a separate Body-Mind in THIS LIFETIME will cease to exist one day. Your children or friends may remember you for many years afterwards but eventually memories will fade, & they too will face the 'Grim Reaper'.
The more we examine, or embrace this subtle(or not so subtle) FEAR of Death that occurs throughout our experiences as a Human Being, the more Freedom we actually have. Freedom to BE fully ALIVE in this unique BODY-MIND in THIS LIFETIME.

ps (recently good friends have passed away... this is something I wrote this over 10 years ago when my father died..)

Jerry Garcia is dead. My father died in May. Summer is coming to an end and autumn slowly appears. We grieve for loved ones and let go knowing precious memories remain and their spirit lives on in each of us.
Out of the darkness of night, we see stars of light. Whether the soul lives on behind the pearly gates or is soon reincarnated again to experience this earthly realm is not as important as the love shared between sentient beings. Love is eternal and will not fade away. Love is beyond all words...Love Is! Feel it, don't think about it! Feel the inhalation...and exhalation...:)

We'll be able to fly...Don't fear the Reaper..

A ''Bleeding Heart' Liberal

2009-08-14T19:19:00.009+07:00

I was going to title this post 'The Republican Soccer Mom' or 'What Would Jesus Do?' but the fact is I'm not a Republican or a Christian. So consider me a 'bleeding heart' Liberal/Progressive.
Recently I was called a 'commie' online for sharing an article on increasing the tax rate on wealthy individuals so perhaps I will state what this 'bleeding heart' progressive's ( still evolving) political belief's are.
-I believe in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by US/UN in 1948)
art. 1 "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
-I believe in the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, & the U.S. Constitution as a living, evolving document. (Abolishing Corporate Personhood should be the next amendment)
-I believe in the Green Party's 10 Key Values
-Money has corrupted the U.S. political system & no real change will happen without serious campaign finance reform (public-funded elections)
-Government is necessary in our over-populated, industrialized society
-Progressive taxation creates a more egalitarian, just society
-Capitalism without environmental & other regulations is a destructive system
-All workers have the right to form a union & have a living wage
-The "growing military,industrial complex" is out of control & the Pentagon's budget is obscene
-U.S. citizens are less safe because of the foreign bases & hundred's of thousands of soldiers stationed in foreign lands (other people's countries)
-Dropping bombs(& firing missles by drones) on rural villages & cities is terrorism
-Climate Change is a far more serious threat to the U.S./World than Muslim extremism
-Single Payer/Universal Health Care is a RIGHT for all people

Recently I have connected on Facebook with old school friends, many who classify themselves as Republicans and/or Christians. Although I know in their daily lives these folks are kind to their family & friends I am amazed at how 'cold-hearted' their political views can be toward others. Many post political opinion 'polls' & some of those polls are truly mean-spirited.
I wonder if the average 'Republican soccer Mom' has considered how her support for Republican politicians & policies may actually be harmful to her children's future. Republicans have been against alternative energy & Climate Change initiatives for over two decades. The last incompetent Republican President wasted eight years of action despite overwhelming scientific evidence that industrial/human actions are heating the Planet. (only 6% of scientists consider themselves Republican)
As for Jesus, wasn't he a homeless wanderer who healed the sick free of charge & talked about 'turning swords into plowshares'? Didn't he radically speak out against the wealthy & Pharisee's, who were concerned with upholding "the law" but had become hardened against the needs of the people? Which political party is the 'Pharisee's' of today? Who is concerned with morality (gay marriage) but cares nothing about people in pain & need?
Would Jesus spend waste one second listening to Rush Limbaugh or the blowhards on Fox 'News'? Would He support the 'status quo' of 18,000 unnecessary deaths a year & millions of people without insurance or support health care for everyone?
I respect people's right to protest but where was the outrage when the U.S. dropped bombs and invaded other countries? If you call yourself a 'conservative' & rant against the poor/welfare but not against corporate 'welfare' or the Pentagon's budget & military occupations you are being inconsistent (Rep. Ron Paul is the last conservative/libertarian politician with any integrity)
We need more 'bleeding hearts" in the United States. With 18,000 unnecessary deaths a year Health Insurance is a MORAL issue. We need people to realize that government policies/actions can create less real suffering in the world(by giving millions health insurance) or more suffering (military actions)...
Well, this 'bleeding heart' has ranting long enough...Maybe I've offended a few folks..Sorry, but thanks for reading!

Eat less, live longer! (68)

2009-07-27T17:27:00.005+07:00

The first thing to realize when wanting to change one's eating habits is that less food is better. In a study with rats the group that lived the longest & was the healthiest had their food intake cut by forty percent. Whales have the largest brains on the Planet & usually spend weeks at a time fasting. Perhaps 40% would be a bit too drastic for most people but cutting our calorie intake is the first step in cleansing our bodies. I read somewhere that the average American (German,etc) has up to 5 pounds of toxic waste stuck in their colon. We are literally 'full of shit!'
Eating less & doing a 'master cleanse' or some other colon cleanse is well known to have incredible health benefits.
In eating it is important to realize that the more natural or raw the food is then it will have more bio-energy or life-force. Vegetables(& fruits) that are eaten raw, or lightly steamed, are far healthier than something that has been cooked too much. Eating 'fried' food is perhaps the worst choice one can make as frying changes the molecular structure of the food to something like plastic someone once told me.
I've written previously about the spiritual, ethical, & health benefits of vegetarianism(post 62) so I won't go into detail on that. Suffice to say that eating a plant-centered diet vs. a meat-centered diet is far healthier. When you buy dead animal corpses(meat) from a store it has probably come from a 'factory farm' & you are not being aware of the hormone injections & other toxic materials that the animal has been forced to consume. You only think you need 'meat' everyday!
Vegans are even healthier than vegetarians. A vegan is someone who does not any animal products, like dairy products from cows. Are adults really supposed to drink cow's milk? Children would be much healthier too if they were given rice or soy milk instead of cow's milk.
Of course, drastically cutting back on sugar & processed food is important for health. Stop buying sugar-laced soft drinks & drink more filtered water or tea. Stop eating 'fast food' because we really don't know what we are consuming. Of course, that is the key to it all. Know what you are consuming/eating! The body is the 'temple' of the soul/spirit so give it good 'fuel'. Give it a tune-up(cleanse) & 'change the oil'(olive oil!) every few months or so. You will be glad you did!

ps. for my Asian friends who eat white rice with everything...I was told by someone (who eats a 90% raw diet) that white rice is basically 'empty' calories with hardly any nutritional value...anyone to defend white rice?

If I was President Pike

2009-07-13T15:49:00.009+07:00

If I was the President of the United States of America...

-I would demand that Congress pass a serious public finance campaign law to get the money out of politics that corrupts every progressive legislative proposal

-Call for a Constitutional Convention and encourage the next Amendment to be one rescinding corporate personhood (multi-national corporate c.e.o.'s controlled the highest levels of the last Republican White House & appear to have much influence in the current Democratic one)

-Follow the wisdom of Founding Fathers like Washington & Jefferson and decrease the standing Army (& Air Force)...the original Constitution only calls for a strong Navy (& Marines) & Militia (National Guard)...By decreasing the Pentagon's budget( currently over ONE TRILLION a year for War-related activities) more money will be freed for peaceful purposes (rather than bullets and bombs)

-Close all 727 U.S. bases in foreign countries and bring all troops back to U.S. soil...(didn't Bin Laden state one of his main reasons his Saudi men attacked was because we had U.S. troops on the 'holy land' of Saudia Arabia?)

-take steps to close the Federal Reserve Bank & set up bio-regional community banks without Wall Streets influence (how did a private bank get so powerful to 'loan' money to the U.S. government?)

-Massive investment in clean energy like solar and wind power. Nationalize natural resources such as gas,minerals, and water (Exxon's 15 billion quarterly profit will go directly in the US Treasury)

-Explain to the American people that Health Care is a basic right & 'Socialism' is not a dirty word. Overtime pay, 8 hour work days, Racial and Women's rights have all been achieved through social movements.

-Stop Corporate Welfare for huge corporations. Increase corporate taxes. (In 1969 corporations paid 29% of US tax burden and now only 6%) Greatly increase the tax on wealthy citizens making over 2 million dollars a year.

-Legalize Nature. Anything that grows in nature should not be illegal. Legalize hemp and marijuana & the coca leaf. Tax it & bring in billions for the Treasury. Re-direct (or shut down) government agencies like the DEA to go after dangerous, destructive drugs like crystal meth. Empty the prisons of non-violent drug offenders and save money by closing half the prisons.
Of course, by legalizing hemp(food,fiber, & clothing) & marijuana (medicine) we could re-vitalize small farmers and cut American's addiction to pharmo-chemicals.

-Create a Dept. of Peace. We already have a Dept. of War (re-named 'Defense') so let's balance the Cabinet.

-Make the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) a Cabinet-level department. Clean Air,Soil, & Water is a basic right for all species, especially humans.

-Change Columbus Day (a genocide murderer who was involved in the sex slave trade of girls as young as 9) to Indigenous Peoples Day to honorthe true 'Founding Fathers(& Mothers) of America.

-Appoint progressive people to make policies & be in charge of federal agencies like Rep. Kucinich of Ohio or Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin...Make Ralph Nader Attorney General. Make scholars Noam Chomsky Sec. of State & Chalmbers Johnson Sec. of Defense.

Of course, I'm not the President. Never will be. I also realize I have almost zero chance of President Obama reading and being influenced by this blog. So consider this my 'last political will & testament.' (for awhile at least) I consider myself a Progressive Democrat with strong Green & Libertarian values but realize about half of my family and friends have voted for Republican politicians I think should be serving time in prison. To me, the Republican Party has been overwhelmingly corrupted by Corporate America & over half the Democrat Party appears to be corrupted. Anyone who wants to wake up from the corporate media dream only has to read internet sites like my North Carolina professor friend Ray Bawarchi's blog.
http://www.raybawarchi.blogspot.com
or sites like
http://www.commondreams.org

Political writers more astute than myself, like Ray & noted author Thom Hartmann, are offering policies and making wise comments on our current political situation. So 'President' Pike is resigning from the world political stage for now. I will devote my energy to teaching English, learning Chinese, riding bikes, learning to play guitar & surfing, & finding time to goof off every now & zen. Good night America.

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Support the Troops!!! (post 66)

2009-05-12T10:27:00.010+07:00

This is a difficult post to write. My posts now go directly to my facebook page where I have over 200 'cyber' friends, some of them whom I know have family or friends stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan. I myself am a Marine Corps veteran, being lucky enough not to be involved in any combat during my four years of service. (Bush Sr. invaded Panama but that mostly involved the U.S. Army)
Almost 8 years ago the U.S. was attacked by a small terrorist group composed mostly of Saudi Arabians. The leader of that group had a small camp in the desert of Afghanistan. There were no Iraq or Afghan people who had attacked the U.S. but the neo-conservative US Republican President decided to invade, drop bombs/destroy, and occupy both countries. Over seven & five years later we still have tens of thousands of troops in both countries. Tens of thousands of civilians have killed by the "bad"("terrorists") and "good"(US forces)bullets & bombs. In Iraq alone over 2 million(out of 23) citizens have fled their country from the chaos the U.S invasion caused.
One of my friends on facebook has a son being sent to Afghanistan & I noticed a comment on a picture by one of his Marine buddies saying, "fire off a few rounds for me!" I also have a cousin who joined the Georgia National Guard after 9-11 so he could be sent to Iraq. Now, he will be going to Afghanistan. He believes that we need to "kill the bad guys over there so they won't kill us over here." (that was his reasoning 2 yrs ago when we last got together)

Imagine this. Imagine the the 50 United States were individual countries instead. Let's imagine that wealthy New York(US) was attacked by religious fanatics from wealthy, oil rich Texas. (but the leaders of Texas(Saudi Arabia) give oil to New York) The leader of that small group who attacked NYC had a small camp in the poor country of Alabama(Afghanistan), ruled by a different group of religious fanatics. The neo-conservative leader of New York decides to invade Alabama to capture the terrorist leader but he escapes.
Two years later the leader of New York decides to "take out" the leader of Georgia(Iraq) who had NOTHING to do with the attacks on New York. New York's powerful military destroys the country(bombing power & water purification plants)& disbands Georgia's army & the neo-conservative leaders are surprised it's troops are not greeted as hero's.
Seven & Five years later New York's troops are still in OCCUPATION of these 'foreign' lands. Over 75% of the citizens of both Alabama and Georgia want the 'foreign'(New York) troops out of their land & believe the violence will decrease dramatically when they do.

I have written previously about US militarism(post 56) quoting Martin Luther King Jr, giving figures on the insane military spending, & reviewing how much death & destruction was caused by US bombs, bullets, and chemicals in that small country. The political leaders lied to the American people then too, saying how much "we" (the US military forces) needed to be there to stop the spread of ________(fill in the blank..communism, terrorism)

Our new President got many progressive citizens votes by telling folks how intelligent he was to speak out against the invasion of Iraq in 2003 when he was a state senator in Illinois. Although over 22 Democrat Senators & 100 Democrat US Congressmen were intelligent enough to vote against the Iraq invasion he did not pick any of those to be in his Cabinet. (He even kept Bush Jr's Sec. of Defense) He is intelligent enough to know we need to withdraw from Iraq (but states we might keep up to 30,000 troops left 2 years from now!)
In Afghanistan, he wants to increase our troops by 21,000 (so far) Perhaps our new President needs to read his history books to think the US Occupation will work any better than the 500,000 troops the British Empire used or the more recent Russian Occupation that failed.

One of the stated reasons Bin Laden attacked the US was because we had over 15,000 US military forces stationed in his 'holy land' of Saudia Arabia. HOW ARE US TROOPS STATIONED IN THE MIDDLE EAST MAKING US CITIZENS ANY SAFER WHEN THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS IN THAT COUNTRY DO NOT WANT US THERE??. Even if we "fire off a few rounds" and "kill the bad guys" those "bad guys" have friends and brothers who now become our enemies. Not only that, but our "collateral damage" has killed thousands of innocent civilians in both countries. More enemies created & lives destroyed by bombs & bullets.

"If we leave the countries will fall apart." Maybe. So what? Iraq & Afghanistan are fictions on a map drawn by colonial powers almost 100 years ago. Iraq has 3 distinct regions & Afghanistan has mountain regions that want nothing to do with the central government(led by a former oil executive Bush Jr. installed) The political talking heads & generals said the same thing about Vietnam. Democracy cannot be forced by the gun. Let the people of Iraq & Afghanistan decide their own fate.

Thousands of US troops have already died & over 30,000 physically maimed for life in our invasion and current 5 & 7 year Occupation of two middle east countries(we are in an OCCUPATION, not a War!) Some estimate over 300,000 troops(or more?) have been damaged psychologically by their time spent in Iraq or Afghanistan. Just today, news came that a US soldier killed 5 other US soldiers at a mental health clinic in Baghdad. The Generals & political talking heads will say "we need more troops" but the truth is we need we NEED TO BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!!! By all means, support loved ones serving in the military with letters & such but the best way you can support the overworked US military is by demanding from our political leaders that they cease USING our troops as occupying military forces in foreign lands.

MAY ALL OUR LOVED ONES COME HOME FROM OVERSEAS SAFELY.
MAY OUR POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE THE WISDOM & COURAGE TO BRING OUR TROOPS HOME.
MAY ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY, PEACEFUL, AND FREE FROM SUFFERING.

Free and Easy

2009-04-09T09:41:00.002+07:00

Happiness cannot be found through great effort and willpower, but is already present, in open relaxation and letting go.
Don't strain yourself, there is nothing to do or undo. Whatever momentarily arises in the body-mind has No real importance at all, has little reality whatsoever. Why identify with, and become attached to it, passing judgement upon it and ourselves?
Far better to simply let the entire game happen on its own, springing up and falling back like waves, without changing or manipulating anything and notice how everything vanishes and reappears, magically, again and again, time without end.
Only our searching for happiness prevents us from seeing it. It is like a vivid rainbow which you pursue without ever catching, or a dog chasing its own tail. Although peace and happiness do not exist as an actual thing or place, it is always available and accompanies you every instant.
Don't believe in the reality of good and bad experiences; they are like today's ephemeral weather, like rainbows in the sky. Wanting to grasp the ungraspable, you exhaust yourself in vain.
As soon as you open and relax this tight fist of grasping,
infinite space is there, open, inviting, comfortable.
Make use of this spaciousness, this freedom and natural ease.
Don't search any further looking for the great awakened elephant, who is already resting quietly at home in front of your own hearth.

Nothing to do or undo
nothing to force
nothing to want,
and nothing missing.
Emaho! Marvelous!
Everything happens by itself.

-Lama Gendun Rinpoche (this is a famous dzochen poem I recently re-discovered)

The First Precept- Reverence For Life (64)

2009-03-08T13:49:00.007+07:00

Although I am not a Buddhist I find I find deep wisdom in that path, especially in the teaching on how the Mind functions. In addition to Buddhist psychology & meditative practices are moral codes, or precepts for human beings to follow so they will not create more 'negative' karma.
Although monks & nuns have over 200! precepts to follow there are only 5 basic precepts. In short they are no killing,no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no gossip/slander, & no(heedless) use of intoxicants.
The First Precept
"Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I undertake to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people,animals,plants,and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in my world, my thinking, and in my way of life."
(as stated by noted Zen Master and author Thich Nhat Hahn)

Vegetarians are observing this precept deeply as are pacifists who work to stop soldiers from being sent to kill others in far away lands. However, if that pacifist 'hates' the President who sends the soldiers to kill he is not practicing the precept.
I had a relative who after the 9/11 terrorist attack said "we should nuke the whole damn Middle East". Because of the actions of 18 men(according to U.S. govt. officials) my relative wanted to kill the entire Arab world. In his Mind, he had already killed them as anyone does when they think hateful thoughts.
Our culture is full of violence. We glorify the 'good' guy(cop,soldier) with a gun(it seems every other Hollywood film has someone with a gun in the poster) who inevitably ends up killing lots of 'bad' guys. Our children are addicted to video games which usually involve shooting and killing imaginary 'bad' guys. There once was a study which showed by the time a child is a teenager he will have watched over 18,000 deaths on television. This is the culture the U.S. is exporting to the rest of the world!( as someone who has traveled in other countries I know)
Why plants & minerals in the precept? Anyone who has ever been to a Redwood Forest knows that those tree's are great beings. There is only 2% left of the old-growth forest left in the continental U.S. and multi-national logging corporations are still cutting tree's as old as Christianity(2,000years!) As for minerals, anyone who has ever been to West Virginia may be aware of a corporate mining practice called 'mountain top removal' which is done in poor mountain communities.
'Waking Up' involves not only realizing how the Mind creates one's Reality but also how interconnected one's actions are to the World. That hamburger from McDonalds probably came from a cow pumped full of steroids & brutally slaughtered after grazing in a Brazilian pasture that used to be a rainforest.(to use one example) We stop watching/supporting violent movies & change the vibration of a room to something more uplifting. To follow the precept and path of non-violence we literally 'change the channel' of violence in our actions, diet, and most importantly in our Minds.

48-The Lazy Backpacker

2008-08-03T20:24:00.001+07:00

I'm a lazy backpacker. After working Monday-Friday for about one & a half years, with only 2 full weeks off I'm in no rush to do much of anything. While many backpackers fill their day with cooking or massage courses, hiking treks, or ride around on their polluting scooter all day I prefer to walk or somedays rent a bike to meander around.
I start my day by getting up whenever I feel like it. I then do some sitting Vipassanna meditation, followed by some Yoga postures such as the Sun Salutations...Afterwards maybe play my guitar or read a good book....If I have fruit I'll eat it or perhaps make my way to a vegetarian place for a late breakfast/early lunch...I guess I'm a 'foodie' as eating out(usually twice a day) is a big part of the day....The other day in Pai, I spent hours at 'The Good Life' cafe having a fascinating conversation with an Aussie named Ross who is convinced the huge physic particle-smasher machine in Switzerland is going to create a minature black hole that will grow & eventually swallow the Earth in a few years! The great thing about Pai is it is such a small town that you get to meet some interesting folks & I've met cool folks from the Netherlands,Germany,France,England,Israel,& all over the world.
Lately, I've been quite the internet junkie as I've got email accounts,a myspace, facebook, and other sites I check out...I feel I need to spend less time on the web and more playing my guitar!
I'm in Chiang Mai now, having just done a 'visa run' to Mai Sai on the Myanmar border(you need to leave Thailand every 30 days to renew your visa) I had a great conversation with Leaf(in Van with his wife & cute young son) about Buddhism and Christianity. Leaf & his family recently went to the World Rainbow Gathering in China(only about 30 folks) and live mostly in Varanasi,India on the Ganges River, one of the oldest known cities in the world.
Mostly I've been in Pai(where I'm going back to tomorrow) I'm staying at the 'Misty View' huts across the River from town, where I stayed 2 years ago. I'm so lazy I just step out barefoot to the back of my hut to take a wee, being careful not to step on the little frogs! Donald & I did a bike trip around part of the beautiful valley one day & 'Kona Ray', another old buddy from Hawaii, has been here 7 months and took me to a sweet waterfall where I got pounded & rejuvenated by the water! Ray invited me to open mike at the 'Bebop' where I watched him play a mean harmonica & a couple of grey hairs on guitars jammed out & sounded great. Life is good...

44-Back in the Land of Smiles!

2008-07-15T15:58:00.001+07:00

Yes, I landed in Bangkok on July 4th & it's good to be back in the Kingdom of Thailand. My travel plans are to stay in Thailand for perhaps 3 months(will have to leave every 30 days to do border 'visa runs') & also visit Cambodia for a month & possibly northern Myanmar. I have a return flight to Taiwan around Christmas & hope to do some subbing work & help out with the first Taiwan Rainbow Gathering. That's 6 months down the road though & for now I'm content in the Land of Smiles.
I didn't stay long in Bangkok but took an uncomfortable overnight Bus ride up north to the city of Chiang Mai. My favorite guest house is now listed in Lonely Planet & is way too crowded so I ended up finding a nearby room with a private bath for only 150baht(about 32=$1us) It wasn't a great choice as the nearby Disco blasted it's hideous drum and bass 'THUMP-THUMP-THUMP" from 11pm-4am! It did inspire me to write a letter to the local paper as I felt sorry for residents there(Also to buy some earplugs!)
CM is a nice city with wonderful crafts & clothing at the nightly & weekend markets where they shut the streets down in a section of the 'old city' It also has nice vegetarian restaurants like 'AUM' and of course, numerous places to experience a full-body(fully clothed) thai massage(only 150bt!) I needed the massages as I had two fevers my first week in Thailand. Perhaps from lack of sleep my first 2 nights or eating some street vendor food in Bangkok but whatever it was I'm fine now. An old friend is flying into CM on the 18th to spend time together & get some inexpensive, quality dental work done so I've decided to leave the city & head up the mountains to the village of Pai.

51-Bike Trip!

2008-09-09T14:18:00.001+07:00

One interesting way to travel is by bike. Not motorbike, but pedal power on a bicycle. My older hippie friend Charles, whom I first met in Hawaii, is a long-time bike touring advocate(http://www.bikepaths.org/ is his website) & offered to tour with me. Charles has been living in Cambodia & agreed to meet me in Chiang Mai & do a long trip through Thailand, all the way to Phnom Penh.

Our first task was to buy a bike in CM for myself(Charles brought his unique low-riding recumbent(seated) to tour with...it gets lots of stares & shouts from locals as they have never seen one....I was just going to buy a used bike(as I plan to leave/give it to friends of Charles in Cambodia) but at our first shop decided a Marin/USA 'Quake 5.0(made in Taiwan!) mountain bike was too good a deal at 10,000baht(about 300$us) to pass up....We had a rack put on it and I loaded my heavy backpack AND guitar strapped on the back and were ready to ride!

Day 1 (Chiang Mai to Lampang) 100plus km

We got a late start(9:30) but finally got out of CM onto Hwy 11 heading south...My first recollection of that day is a car overturned on the highway(bikes are safer!)..Eventually it started to rain(monsoon season) & I quickly covered my gear & myself with a poncho...We soon hit our first large hill & I overtook Charles(the recumbent bike is slow going uphill).....We soon proceeded to make our first touring riding 'buddy' mistake as I rode into a gravel driveway to a store for water(I left the road) & Charles biked past me when my back was turned....I thought he was still behind(& he thought I was ahead) so I went ahead a bit & waited..& waited....eventually it dawned on me he was ahead so I biked hard up a long,huge hill /mountain & soon found Chas taking a snooze under a shed....I wore myself out with the exersion but we still had many kilometers to go to Lampang...I let Chas take the lead & struggled with poorly situated gear(my guitar strapped to the side) creating a wind drag in the continuous rain...Around darkness we made it into Lampang & a cheap hotel(100baht/3$us) with a bed.shower, & a fan which I used to dry my gear by hanging it on anything I could find in the room!...

Day 2 Lampang to Wang Chin 70km

I decided I was carrying too much gear so left 2 shirts & towel for the cleaning guy & had Chas carry my small(but bulky) mosquito net...I also situated my guitar on top of my backpack so the weight is more evenly distributed(next time I will travel with side paniers/bags that most touring folks use!)...From my grungy hotel room(dirty walls,etc) balcony it was a nice sight to see literally hundreds of bikers of all ages biking through town on a Saturday morning(the traffic was stopped by police so it must be a special event)...We eventually got riding on our bikes too & Chas & I had our first big conflict...He had shared earlier that he had got lost for two hours leaving Lampang riding in circles on a previous trip & when we got lost looking for the 'backroad' in our first 10 minutes I insisted we just take hwy 11...The rookie(me) got my way & I'm glad I did as we soon realized it was a very special bike day as the 'Tour of Thailand' bike racing tour was doing a big bike race(250km) & the pack soon zoomed past us...I got to chat for awhile(& take a nice picture) of the guy in the rear while biking!...While the road racing bikers turned left back up to Chiang Mai we turned right up over the hill/mountain heading south...Thank goodness, there were coconut vendors before the hill to quench the thirst from the hot Sun!...We had a brutal uphill climb up a large, long mountain & soon I was way ahead of Chas. We had agreed to take a back road to Wang Chin and I remember passing one little side road & thinking that could not be our turn. I keep going & soon reached the summit & decided to go down instead of waiting for my riding buddy. It was a steep & fast downhill & I had a terrible feeling I had passed the turn already( & did not have the energy to climb the hill again!) I gave a shout of relief on reaching the bottom & seeing the sign to turn to Wang Chin! I stopped & had a soy milk & the kind kids at the 'bus stop/station' let me check my email on their computer. Chas eventually rode downhill too & we turned onto a smaller two-lane 'back road'...About 10 km down the road we stopped at a 'hot springs' where unfortunately the springs were too to do anything but boil eggs(basket & eggs provided!) We did get a nice papaya salad there though & left to make it to Wang Chin before dark. Just before Wang Chin there was a man who spoke English & offered his uncompleted house for us to stay at but without water to shower we politely declined. We agreed I would take the lead on finding lodging & our only options were to stay at the Buddhist Wat/Monastery(with no bed) or the local nice hotel on the River...We pulled in at dark as the friendly owner was roasting corn & potatoes on a fire with her family...She only charged us 300baht for an awesome room...only problem was there was one bed but they had extra bedding/mattress so Chas voluntered for the floor....We took nice hot showers & afterwards I let the teenage kids play my guitar by the fire(the English speaking owner had left) and we went back across the river into town to try to find vegetarian food(the 'corn' grill was kind of small for two extra folks!)...We stopped at a friendly restaurant(only two were open) & I ordered some hot soup which unfortunately had 'pork'(pig flesh) in it...That is a problem being a vegetarian & traveling in a country & not knowing the language...I made the mistake of drinking the broth which ended up giving me a powerful 'cleanse'!

Day 3 Wang Chin to Sawankhalok 90plus km (hwy 1125 to 101)

I had a powerful dream which awoke me at 4am but went back to sleep & we got another late start(the earlier start the less the Sun/heat)...One of the nice things about traveling on smaller highways is that you have more trees to shade you from the brutal Sun...I wear a baseball cap under my helmet to shade my face & change my white t-shirt to a long sleeve & have sunscreen to protect my skin...We had a nice riding day along hwy 1125 passing rice fields & small villages...Occasionally there are stands of locals selling produce or fruit & we stopped at one.(see pics) I have a craving for delicious dragonfruit & they were also selling hot corn-on-the-cob! Quite a deal at 10 baht a bag..(also bought bananas & an apple) One of the guys wanted us to marry his teenage daughter(or sister?) which brought giggles from everyone but which we politely declined (it annoys Chas as he gets that all the time & he feels it insults the girls) We stopped for a late afternoon papaya salad in the town of Si Satchanalai but decided to keep going another 30 km to Sawankhalok. We reached there around dark & found another nice, friendly hotel for 260 baht(with 2 beds!) The town had an internet shop which I used to check email & Chas used to download his(he is traveling with a small computer) Chas left the shop early & when I returned to the hotel I decided to check out the hotel restaurant & order some food. There were also 3 people sitting beside me & found out they were the karoke 'entertainment' It was raining so the local crowd never showed so I encouraged them to play for me/themselves so I turned down the TV & he got on the keyboards & the women sang a few songs. It was a good time but soon the place closed early & we said our goodbyes & I went upstairs to pass out!

Day 4 Sawankhalok to Phitsanulok 100plus km Hwy 101 to hwy 12

We got an earlier start today & checked our email & got some fruit before leaving town. I decided to wear my (only) black sweatpants as I had small sun blister on one of my legs.On the outskirts we stopped at a friendly bike store who offered us water & we got to sign his guestbook. Unfortunately he did not have a mirror( to keep me from turning my head all the time to look behind me) or a kickstand (the poor metal quality one I bought in CM broke the first day!) After 3 days of hard riding I'm getting in good riding shape & Chas & I cruised quite brisk on the flat 101(he says we cruise at 22km/hr)...We cruised so fast we missed two of our turn-offs for shortcuts to Phitsanulk!(plus the road signs are in Thai!) One thing we didn't miss is a massive spraying of some type of insecticide that guys with big blowers on their backs spray walking down the side of the road(I actually gave them a wide berth but still got a small dose) Even in cities they spray this stuff with huge white clouds following in their wake!

We eventually made it to the 4-lane of Hwy. 12 & decided to skip the famous ruins/town of Sukhothai & head east. We made a nice stop about 15km down the road at a very nice bar/restaurant owned by Belgium guy who has been living in the Kingdom for 26 years...We continued cruising & had an even faster pace as I rocked out to some rock & roll Chas has uploaded to my mp3-player..We rolled into the large town of Phitsanulok & crossed the river & found another nice hotel for only 300baht(7th/top floor with nice view of the town & mountains)..even has TV with BBC news & Fox 'news'( what propaganda crap!) I got a nice 'pad thai' meal( Chas got a salad) & then I went to get a Thai massage at one of the three massage places across from the biggest hotel in the city. She was small but strong & gave a great massage to my sore leg muscles. We are staying an extra day here (I am typing this on the 5th day with kids around me playing video games at a local internet shop) I'm going to get another massage(200baht here/150 baht usually) as we will soon be going over LARGE mountains on the way southeast(we are avoiding Bangkok area) to Cambodia...The journey continues...

52-Bike Trip Part II

2008-09-13T21:39:00.001+07:00

Day 6 Phitsanulok to Nang Bua (125km)

After a day of rest(& 2 massages) we left Phitsanulok in the morning on Hwy12 heading east...The original plan was to take hwy 12 across the mountains but we decided there was an easier mountain crossing further south so we turned right on hwy 11 & headed south. Hwy. 11 is a nice ride with the mountain range on the left & rice fields all around. Charles & I rode together & had good conversations & I almost hit another snake!( I ran over a small green snake on day 3!) We stopped at one of the fruit stands in the morning & I got a bag of rambutan & a dragonfruit. I also got a nice honey/peanut snack mix which I seem to have become addicted too! The riding went smoothly & we got to experience a beautiful purple/pink sunset. Just before dark we pulled into Nang Bua, which is basically an intersection of two highways. Charles spotted a '24 hr' sign which means a 'hotel'(more specifically a 'love motel'...at least it was clean & had two beds!) I found a nearby restaurant & even though I said 'ken-jay'( I eat vegetables) they still put the dead flesh in my food (I gave it to the dog) It rained heavily that night & I was glad I was in bed!

Day 7 Nang Bua to Phakti Chumphon (90km)

Today is the day we will enter the mountain range but we have almost 70km just to reach it! We rode on hwy 225 which is lots of farming country. Not so much rice but lots of cattle herders(we have past dozens the past week) & corn, peanuts, & other root crops. We think the corn grown is a GM-hybrid version as posted signs(in Thai) have a picture of corn with '999' ( or some # like that) We passed a HUGE chicken plant with two Golden Chickens at the entrance. Also lots of small vendors selling mushrooms , peanuts, & other locally grown vegetables.

We finally entered the hills/mountains & started our climb to Phakdi Chumphon. Uphills give one a great lung & leg workout! After about 15km or so we passed a resort but decided to go into town and try our luck..We made it into Chumphon about dusk & rode around the small town(only about 15o meters long on two lanes) Right when we decided to turn to the only Wat in town a woman called out in English to us to sit down outside her clothing store. She moved back here with her Pakistani husband(who has been here over 20 yrs) from Bangkok several years ago. She offered us her brothers empty house for us to stay at which was very close by. After leaving our gear there & a quick shower we went back to town & ate 4 pad thai dishes & went to the local internet where the folks where very friendly too.
Day 8 Phakdi Chumphon to Chaiyaphum 90plus-km

The morning brought pouring rain & we went to our new friend clothing store where she made us some coffee. We considered staying an extra day but when the rain let up decided to get on down the road. It was a steep uphill leaving P.C. but eventually turned into rolling up & down hills (the downhills are always nice!) It was beautiful countryside with passing still more cow herders & agriculture land & forested hills. Charles had problems with his seat & I had more problems with my gear(backpack & guitar) rubbing my back tire occasionally.
We rolled into the larger town of Chaiyaphum where the traffic was slow as the streets where flooded because of the rain. Our first stop was a Vegetarian restaurant(the first I have seen since Chiang Mai) which had great food & a friendly owner who spoke English & recommended a nearby guesthouse. The husband/wife there were friendly & we had a good stay there.
Day 9 Chaiyaphum to Prathi 85km

Leaving in the morning at the guesthouse we met a Chinese teacher who was living/teaching there & then we ate breakfast at the vegetarian restaurant. We said goodbye to our English-speaking friend & then got on the road, eventually turning southeast on hwy 202. It was a nice road with beautiful countryside. Charles continued to have problems with his recumbent seat & we stopped at a Wat to work on it. There didn't appear to be any monks around & interestingly, one of the temples appeared to be a crematorium with a chimney smokestack & big oven to burn the bodies. We soon got back on the road & passed various villages & vendor stands. In the early afternoon we came to the town of Sida, in which we hoped to find a place to stay. In asking Thai folks for directions to 'hotel' or 'guesthouse' we got all sorts of answers & directions. One man sent us about 2 kilometers down the road where I decided to ask the local police.(or perhaps highways patrol office) They were all enjoying a meal & drinking beer & in their broken English told me there was no nearby place to stay. Chas & I decided to continue to the next town of Prathi. When we arrived we found one '24 hour' hotel which was a dive & eventually found the 'Banana' for 350 baht. Afterwards we went back into town & I had fun talking to the lady vendors in the market about being a biker & 'ken-jay'...Chas found some new guy friends who offered him beers & told us where the local internet shop was...
We are only about 3 days from the Cambodian border...I will probably not write anymore until Cambodia as it will be(as the shirt says) "same, same, but different!" Most Thai people are very friendly & of course, knowing the language would help tremendously. Biking is a great way to travel as it has given me a new perspective on the world & the beauty of the countryside is incredible. It certainly is a 'warrior' path as one is living with the elements of intense Sun, wet rain, wind, & sometimes hills to climb. Biking will get you in shape! Go for a ride!

38-Guitar Blues

2006-11-23T10:45:00.001+07:00

Panic. That's how the mind felt about 1 hour into the 5 hr. backwater boat journey back north. Oh Shit! I left my guitar next to the coconut tree by the River at the Ashram! I rushed below deck to check to see if somehow it was with my backpack but alas, no dice. After that realization the mind calmed down & I pondered whether some of the local workers by the River 'groundscored' it or returned it to the Ashram. It was a nice little Jasmine backpacker I had picked up in Arcadia, California about 2 years ago & I still hadn't really learned to play it!....I decided to let it 'go' & email 'Recycling'Bill at the ashram to give it to him if it was turned in(it was)......I vow to play my next(Bigger/easier to play) Guitar more!!

27-COUP D' ETAT!

2006-09-21T21:34:00.001+07:00

I didn't find out about the Military taking over the government until I checked the BBC news on the internet yesterday. I then learned from a local that that 'tanks' were stationed at the U.S. Consulate so I walked over & took some pictures(www.gorillaeyes.photosite.com) It appears the much respected King of Thailand has given his approval of the Military's actions. The Prime Minister was a controversial political leader whose 'get tough' policies led to 3,000 'drug dealer's' deaths by the police & much violence in the southern Muslim provinces(Interestingly the top General of the Coup is a Muslim in this overwhelmingly Buddhist country)
A famous comment goes something like " Democracy is a terrible form of government but better than anything else"...I hope that Democracy in Thailand is restored before too long as it is much better than 'Martial Law'(No Constitution, No Parliment,Political Parties & all political gatherings over 5 people banned)......As much as I dislike my own(U.S.) President I would rather see him legally Impeached for violations of the U.S. Constitution(particuarly the 4th,6th & 8th amendments)than the Military rolling into Washington & disbanding Congress...but Thailand is a special situation with troops pledging loyalty to the King.....
My greatest political concern is the illegal actions of my own government(Invasion & Occupation of Iraq with 130,000 troops & now talk of bombing Iran?!) The greatest human rights violations in Southeast Asia is the Myanmar/Burma military government actions & the continued 'house arrest'for many years of Democracy leader & Nobel Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi, 'The Lady' as the Burmese people call her ..Myanmar is one of the worse military regimes on the planet & it's people have been suffering for years under Martial Law...

24-Religion

2006-09-03T22:23:00.003+07:00

I'm not a Krishna..some people think because I have a wierd haircut I'm Krishna but although I admire the Krishna's for their joyous chanting & feeding poor people for free I don't need to worship the cute little blue boy...I'm not a Christian,Muslim,Jewish, or even a Buddhist ....
I have problems with religious 'dualism'...heaven/hell, good/evil, spirit/matter......I'm a non-dualist....heaven & hell are feelings & places here on earth, there is a little 'good' & 'evil' in every human heart, the spiritual world is Here & Now if we slow down enough to Feel & See the Mystery.....'God' is a concept but refers to a vastness beyond our intellect....we don't need a priest or a 'holy' book to 'know God'....the 'Big Bang' is ongoing...every expanding & contracting breath is an ongoing process of Energy, God, the Universe.....we are the wave & the ocean...every being in the Universe is interconnected with everyone else...so like the song says, SMILE on your brother(sister) everybody get together & try to LOVE one another right NOW....

19-back in Bangkok

2006-08-17T13:03:00.001+07:00

after the retreat I went with fellow meditators to Chiaya & had good time chatting about our experiences & eating some sweets & such...one older gentleman from America was working as a college literature professor in Oman & shared how after the invasion of Iraq even the young women in that liberal Arab country hate America(thank's to Junior/Cheney & fellow Republicans!).....at the train station there were no more 2nd class tickets so I got 3rd class for 211 baht to Bangkok.....in car 13 with all thai people & 3 other farongs...I sat next to Michelle from Colorado who was returning from the annual huge full-moon party on Ko Phangon...also Shawnee & Alan, Americans from the retreat who were heading back to Guilin, China.....we survived the straight seat train ride(I got about 1 hour sleep) & in the morning made it into Bangkok where we got a taxi to Banglamphu, the backpacker section of town...Alan knew of some cheap guesthouses by Santichaipraken Park(Phra Samane Fort) by the Nam Chao Phraya/river(cross the dirty canal by the fort & ghouse's on the left...cheap 100-200baht) ...I mainly hung out with Shawnee & Alan(Michelle went on to Laos) in the famous backpacker Bangplamphu/Khao San road area which has a variety of hostels,restaurants/bars & street vendors, shops, clothing,ect....... After 2 nights I left by the River Ferry to the elavated Sky Train which took me to the East Bus Station where I got a Bus to Ko Chang Island....

21-Kanchanaburi

2006-08-31T11:59:00.001+07:00

I'm in Kanchanaburi, staying at the C & C Guesthouse with a 70 baht room literally floating on the River Kwai..(yes, very near the WWII & Hollywood famous 'Bridge Over The River Kwai'...go ahead & whistle the song now that it's in your head)....sleeping on the River is nice except for the loud tourist speedboats that go by occasionally..(but the waves they make give the room a nice rocking motion!)....My friend Watcharee & her daughter live near here...Watcharee used to have a 9 to 5 regular job but now she makes unique silly little jewelry men she sells to girls at local night markets & does fine for herself....she took me today at sunset to the most incredible Wat/temple I've seen in Thailand a few km. out of town with a huge Buddha on top of a hill overlooking the valley....of course I didn't bring my camera!...there is also a 'Tiger Temple'(live tigers!)& various waterfalls & other sites nearby but I've decided to leave tomorrow & head back north to Chaing Mai by Train...I want to replace an mp3 player I bought there but mainly visit a Wat there where one can do intensive Vipassanna practice..(I considered going back to Suan Mokkh for another 10 days but will go North instead)...PEACE

17-Suan Mokkh(before)

2006-07-31T11:42:00.001+07:00

After spending a few days at the 'Cabana' beach near Chumpton on the Gulf of Thailand(went for a nice ocean swim for the first time in months!) I'm further south near Chaiya at the Suan Mokkh International Hermitage...they have silent retreat for 10 days at the start of every month & I have a few hours before it begins then no reading,computers, ect. for 10 days...this place(I registered this morning/1,500 bt. for meals,ect) is very peaceful & even has hot springs!..founded by a famous Thai monk named Buddhadasa who passed away several years ago....I've done several silent retreats before & it is always a good purification of mind-body with a renewed clarity of mind & usually insights obtained into the psyche....maybe I'll get some clarity on 'my future'(or why I'm so interested in it!)...I was recently called a 'butterfly' by someone which means a man who goes from flower(woman) to flower...there is some truth to that because I haven't let myself 'settle down' or found someone to travel with...maybe 10 days of meditation will enlighten me to these ponderings or at least 'settle down' the mind to BE HERE NOW with choiceless awareness to WHAT IS..the SUCHNESS of the ETERNAL PRESENT....AMEN!.....smiles!

14-Pai(part II)

2006-07-11T11:11:00.002+07:00

On the last day of my first visit to Pai(5 days) I went to an all day trance dance party at the Mango Place then across the street to 'Good Life' which had an outdoor fire & drum circle...I met lots of cool folks who have lived here for awhile & kept in touch with one new Brazilian friend who encouraged me to come back for a longer visit so here I am again....my first 3 nights I stayed at the 'Family Place' near the river...huts were very small but nice elder & daughters(family!)..experienced a major flood which I wrote previously about in my email....I took my $2/day scooter & took bridge across the river to 'Misty View' which has nice hut's for only 100 bt/day..very peaceful & higher ground!....some interresting folks in other huts including a Japanese woman who has been traveling 8 months(& soon going back to Japan with Thai vegetable seeds to plant)..also Claire from France who I took sightseeing to the waterfalls & elephant camps...at an outdoor party one night I met local woman named Bee who told me she works as cook at a resort 6 days week/ about 9 hours days for monthy minimin wage salary of 6,000 baht a month which figures out to 30baht an hour(less $1).....weather is gray alot as rainy season is here...going to switch to renting a bike as I need the exercise!...here for at least another week but I'm thinking of doing a meditation retreat soon....peace...

12-Brief Stops

2006-07-07T14:46:00.001+07:00

After 5 days in Prubang I took a Bus (incredible mountain views) down to Viang Viene(?) a small gravel road town that is known for its incredible countryside & outdoor adventures..tubing down the river & kayaking are big...(unfortunately I managed to badly bruise my food in Prabang & didn't do the activities)...I only stayed 2 nights & met some cool travelers...the town is known for about every other restaurant repeatingly showing replays of the TV show 'Friends'...surreal........just a short time in the capital of Vietienne too...a nice dinner at an outside dinner on the Mekong(further south than Prubang)...at the Bus station taking the Bus back to Thailand I had a great experience with the local folks as I had to spend all my 'kip'(currency)...I bought a cheap watch & a bunch of fruit which I shared with everyone..smiles all around...
Just across & down the river is the Thai border town of Nong Khai which a nice guesthouse on the Mekong called Mutt Mee where I stayed 2 nights...I then made my way back up north by (cheap!) govt. Buses staying one night in Lampang & back in Chiang Mai 2 nights...enjoyed the Sunday market & went to a pub & watched England lose to Portugal..also biked to the Airport 'Mall' to buy an inexpensive digital camera...was packed with locals(few farongs) who seem to want to be consumers like America & Japan consumeristic cultures...even had a 'parade' of children walking around with signs singing & saying 'shop' at this particular store!...

9-Border Town Scam

2006-06-29T18:18:00.001+07:00

After a long day(sitting) on the slow-boat on the Mekong I am ready to get off the boat...I'm the first brave farong off the boat at our overnight stop at the village of Pat Beng..there are many local young /old men waiting for us & of course I get the most aggressive who insists on showing me a cheap guesthouse...we walk up the long hill to the one lane town & he shows me a room with a tiny window overlooking the Mekong for 1oo baht(less $3)...I take it & then he puts the hard sell on me to buy some weed..I tell him no thanks but he opens the bag & has me smell it..what the hell it's been awhile & I'm tired..he starts at 600 & we get down to 100 & a couple of rolling papers & then he leaves to find more rich farongs....5 minute later a knock on my door..it's a local guy I remember from the boat who is friends with the other guy & wants to smoke some....sure what the heck & I let him roll us one & we play the guitar a bit then he leaves....10 minutes later another knock.... a guy I don't know want to come in..okay you want to smoke to huh?...when I hand him the joint he goes into this 'you are in trouble, unless you give me 100 $ I call the cops'(he has a cell phone in his hand)...I'm a little stoned but 95% certain he's full of B.S.(we are in the middle of knowhere on the Mekong in Laos!)..I grab the joint & go off on him a bit & push him out the door....5 minutes later he's back & lowers his 'call the cops' threat to $10...I kind of go off on him again about bad business karma after I bought weed from his buddy then give him 8,000 Kip(about $1) just to leave me alone..he comes back a 3rd time but I ignore him & he slides the money under the door.....wow, what a comedy of errors I created...LIVE & LEARN....

11-Political Ponderings

2006-07-03T01:51:00.001+07:00

Did you know that Laos is one of the most heavily bombed nations in history?....from 1965-1973 the United States dropped millions of tons of bombs in Laos during the Vietnam War..there are still bombs killing farmers & children in Laos from that time...as inept & corrupt as Bush-Cheney & the current Republicans are I would say Nixon & Kissinger killed far more people & were much worse war criminals....but learning of the fact of the illegal bombing & the fact the bombing was kept secret from the American people for 4 Years(!) reminds me that the United States government still lies..what comes out of the White House is as much Propaganda as anything Bin Laden says..